Spokane scammers using glue on ATM buttons

SPOKANE — A Spokane County sheriff’s spokesman says scammers have used a button-gluing technique to steal bank cards or cash at two north Spokane ATM machines.

Deputy Craig Chamberlin said Friday the thieves glue down a button on the machine so the victim’s transaction can’t be processed. When that happens, the deputy said it’s possible the machine will not release the victim’s debit or credit card.

Chamberlin said if the frustrated victim leaves, many machines have a short time delay before the card is not returned and stored in the machine for security purposes. If the thieves are able to get to the machine within that time frame, it’s possible for them to defeat their tampering and either retrieve the card or continue the transaction.